Parents, schools and policymakers in Rwanda have been urged to work together to nurture a reading culture among children, with stakeholders stressing that digital technologies and devices should complement, rather than replace, reading. While some may see the rise of smartphones and social media as a challenge for developing children’s reading habits, writer and bookseller Chantal Mutesi Gasana said digital devices are not an obstacle themselves but rather how they are introduced and used. “Technology is not the problem. The challenge is how it is used,” she said. Reading culture starts at home According to Mutesi, Rwanda faces three major challenges in promoting children’s reading culture: weak reading habits, limited parental involvement and a shortage of engaging books. She said cultivating a reading culture begins at home, where children are more likely to develop an interest in books if they regularly see their parents reading. “When we talk about reading culture, we often forget where culture begins. It starts in the family. If parents do not read, their children are unlikely to develop the habit,” she said. Mutesi added that many parents spend little time reading with their children or encouraging them to read beyond helping them with homework. She also encouraged parents to include books in their household budgets. “Parents buy clothes, food and other necessities for their children. Books should also be among those necessities,” she said. Rather than discouraging children from using digital devices, Mutesi urged parents and teachers to guide them towards educational content. “We have affordable internet in many parts of the country, but children need guidance. If they are left alone with phones and computers without being taught how to find meaningful content, they are likely to consume irrelevant material instead of educational resources,” she said. ALSO READ: Yolande Mukagasana calls on writers to preserve their stories for the next generation Shortage of age-appropriate books Another challenge, she said, is the limited availability of age-appropriate books. “While there are books for children learning to read, there is still a significant gap in reading materials for learners from Primary Five to Senior Six,” she said. Without engaging books, children are more likely to turn to other forms of entertainment. Mutesi further recommended that schools dedicate time to reading beyond classroom lessons and establish classroom libraries to expose children to books from an early age. She also pointed to the limited number of bookshops outside major urban centres, saying this makes books less accessible and expensive for many families. She said a customer may pay Rwf16,000 for a book priced at Rwf10,000 after transport costs were added. “If there were bookshops in different parts of the country, people would access books more easily and at a lower cost,” she said. ALSO READ: Five nonfiction books to add to your reading list Call for stronger investment in reading culture To strengthen the local publishing industry, Mutesi called for greater support for Rwandan authors, saying writers need sustainable incomes to continue producing books. Richard Hategekimana, founder and chairman of the Rwanda Books Industry Association, said inadequate investment in libraries and non-textbook reading materials continues to hamper efforts to promote reading. He noted that many schools lack libraries. “How can we encourage students to read when there are no books available? Many schools say they have no budget,” he said. ALSO READ: Who will truly lead our national book policy? Promoting Rwandan history and values in schools Hategekimana added that while schools purchase textbooks for classroom subjects, they rarely invest in books that promote patriotism, values and Rwanda’s history. “Our schools mainly buy books for subjects such as Physics and Chemistry. We also need books that teach Rwanda’s history, culture, patriotism and the values that shape responsible citizens,” he said. Hategekimana said schools should stock more books by local authors. “Many books available in schools focus on foreign history, such as the French Revolution or the American Revolution. We also need books that help children understand Rwanda and appreciate our own values,” he said. He called on the Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) to allocate a dedicated budget for reference books and value-based reading materials. Hategekimana also encouraged parents to reward children with books. “Instead of rewarding a child with flowers after performing well in school, why not give them a book? A child will read it and gain knowledge that lasts,” he said. He stressed that building a strong reading culture will require coordinated efforts from parents, schools, publishers and government institutions to ensure books are accessible, affordable and relevant to young readers. Technology as an opportunity for reading John Rusimbi, a former president of the Pan African Writers Association, said technology should be viewed as an opportunity rather than a threat to children’s reading culture. He noted that with many books now available in digital formats, parents and educators should guide children towards quality reading materials instead of restricting their use of digital devices. “Technology is already part of children’s lives. What we need is to orient them towards relevant books because many publications have already been digitalized,” he said. Rusimbi encouraged Rwandan authors to digitalize more of their books to ensure children can easily access local literature through the platforms they already use. “We should ensure that technology meets the reading needs of our children by making more Rwandan books available in digital formats,” he said. Influencers urged to promote reading culture Rusimbi also proposed working with social media influencers to help promote reading among young people, noting that many children and teenagers spend long hours on social media. He suggested that writers’ associations engage influencers to raise awareness about their role in encouraging reading. “Many influencers are young people themselves. They have younger brothers and sisters, and some are parents. If they understand the importance of reading, they can help inspire more children to develop the habit,” he said. Rusimbi further recommended training influencers to promote African literature, arguing that greater exposure to local and African stories would help preserve cultural values. He said excessive reliance on Western literature can sometimes distance young people from Rwandan and African history, identity and traditions. He added that social media platforms could also be used to reach parents with messages encouraging them to support reading at home.
